[Cheshire Cosplay] Azur Lane: Makeup Test Log of a Super Well-Behaved Kitty

For this makeup test, I chose Cheshire from Azur Lane. Having seen many fellow cosplayers portray this character before, that obedient yet playful cat-like charm really hit home with me. I put a lot of effort into preparing the wig right from the start; with a short hair style featuring a gray base and teal-blue highlights, the bangs and sideburns had to be trimmed repeatedly to flatter my face shape. The large white ear and the oversized purple bow on top were hand-sewn and secured, while the sunglasses served as a prop perched on the hair to add a casual, cute touch.

For makeup, I tried a translucent base, as Cheshire inherently has a fair and lively feel. The eye makeup focused on enlarging the eyes, choosing emerald-green contact lenses paired with slightly elongated eyeliner to make the eyes look brighter and more expressive. For the lips, I used a low-saturation peach shade, which isn't overpowering but adds great vitality. The purple bow tie on the neck and the criss-cross straps on the chest serve as the visual centerpiece of the entire costume; to keep them snug, transparent securing straps were used at the shoulders—a crucial detail during shooting to prevent shifting.

The costume fabric was chosen with a subtle satin sheen, and the splicing of purple and black enriches the overall layering. The ruffled frills on the sleeves also soften the arm lines. During shooting, I deliberately chose pure white curtains as the backdrop to maximize the vividness of the costume's colors without interference from distracting hues. A softbox was used for lighting, making the skin tone appear more even while suppressing harsh glare from the wig.

During the makeup test, I adjusted the intensity of the eye makeup and the wig volume several times. A cat's demeanor needs to be cute without looking overly childlike; keeping a touch of cool detachment in the eyes brings it closer to the original character design. Shooting this look went very smoothly overall, especially the combination of the oversized ear and sunglasses on top, which created a striking visual memory against the solid background. The white veil in hand was a makeshift prop to add an airy, flowing aesthetic to the frame.

In terms of 2D cosplay, Cheshire's design has a delightful color scheme—the three cool tones of gray, cyan, and purple blend harmoniously without feeling cluttered. Furthermore, the short hairstyle is very forgiving on face shapes. Throughout the makeup test process, I was also thinking about how to showcase the character's multifaceted nature through different camera angles. Close-ups emphasize the gaze and makeup details, while half-body shots display the tailoring of the costume and accessory styling. I'm quite satisfied with the overall accuracy this time; the only thing to refine is the color transition at the hair roots, which can be made more natural next time.